Qorikancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, was the most sacred and important temple in the Inca Empire, located in the heart of Cusco, Peru. Dedicated to Inti, the Sun God, Qorikancha once dazzled with its walls covered in sheets of solid gold and housed golden statues and offerings. It served as a spiritual center and astronomical observatory, with its perfectly aligned windows and niches designed to capture sunlight during solstices. The Inca used it to mark agricultural calendars and perform religious rituals. The precision of the stonework remains one of the finest examples of Inca architecture, with interlocking stones so finely cut that no mortar was needed.

After the Spanish conquest, much of Qorikancha’s wealth was looted, and the Santo Domingo Convent was built atop its foundations. This blend of Inca and colonial architecture symbolizes the cultural fusion—and conflict—of that era. Despite the destruction, large sections of the Inca temple remain intact, showcasing the contrast between the enduring Inca foundations and the more fragile colonial structures. Today, Qorikancha is a major archaeological and historical site that reveals the grandeur of Inca civilization and the lasting impact of colonization on Peru’s cultural heritage.